From Red Carpets to Side Streets — Why the Mullet Is the It Cut of 2026
Words | Jim Shaw
Mullets are having a moment! What was once loud, reckless and chaotic has been reborn as the most intentional and coveted men’s haircut of 2026.
Across Hollywood and global fashion stages, today’s mullet isn’t about rebellion for its own sake — it’s a carefully crafted style statement. A-list stars have been championing the look all year: from breakout standout Connor Storrie and Jacob Elordi at the Golden Globes, to a wave of baby and mini mullets on the red carpet that redefine edge with sophistication. Trend pages and stylist roundups confirm it: modern mullets — soft, refined variants with texture and shape — are cropping up everywhere from award shows to fashion editorials, making this ‘80s powerhouse hairstyle one of the defining men’s trends of 2026.
Here are some expert tips and tricks to ace this cut.
Knowing Your Client’s Face Shape
There is one detail that determines whether your mullet looks sharp or completely off- your client’s face shape. The mullet is a high-contrast haircut by nature, with tight areas and longer sections working together. If that balance doesn’t complement the facial structure, the cut can quickly feel unflattering or dated.
Knowing the face shape allows the mullet to be customized for your client. A rounder face benefits from added height and tighter sides to create definition, whereas longer or narrower faces need softer transitions and controlled volume to avoid exaggeration.
Even jaw strength, forehead width and cheekbone prominence influence how aggressive or subtle the mullet should be. When face shape is considered, the haircut enhances the client’s features rather than competing with them.
Maintaining the Texture
Texture turns a mullet into a statement cut. Without the right movement and layers, even a perfectly cut mullet can look flat and heavy. Maintaining texture is about more than just letting thehair grow; it’s about controlling how it sits, flows and interacts with the rest of the cut. Products such as matte clays, pomades and sea salt sprays help define layers and add subtle separation, while regular trimming prevents the ends from becoming stringy or uneven. Essentially, texture is the difference between a haircut that hangs there and one that moves with you.
Using the Right Products
Investing in the correct products is essential for making a mullet look intentional rather than messy. Clays and pastes add structure and define layers without stiffness, sea salt sprays create effortless texture and lightweight mousses, and volumizers lift fine hair to balance the longer back. The goal is subtle control, just enough product to enhance movement and shape without weighing hair down or making it look greasy. When done correctly, the right products can transform the mullet into a statement style.
Modern Mullet Essentials
The modern mullet relies on refined styling rather than heavy product use. Texture is key, and lightweight sea salt sprays from Davines and ELEVEN Australia help create natural movement while keeping layers soft and wearable. For structure, matte clays remain a professional staple — formulas from L’Oréal Professionnel and Kevin Murphy add definition without unwanted shine, allowing the haircut’s contrast to stand out.
Volume plays an equally important role in balancing shorter fronts with longer backs. Lightweight mousses by Wella Professionals and Moroccanoil provide lift and internal support without stiffness. For polished finishing, session stylists favour flexible stylers from Schwarzkopf Professional and Kérastase
The rule for 2026: layer products lightly. Subtle control, natural texture and movement transform the mullet from retro statement into modern sophistication.
Be Confident
Lastly, Confidence is the final and arguably the most important step in mastering a mullet. This is a bold, statement-making haircut, and how you carry it says more than the cut itself. Confidence ensures the haircut feels deliberate rather than accidental, transforming it from just hair into a reflection of personality and style.
Jim Shaw is a multi-award-winning men’shairdresserr and Director at TONI&GUY Billericay, UK.
